Method and assembly for securing an implantable medical device on a delivery system

1. A method of securing a crimped medical device over a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter, comprising the steps of:

providing a medical device having a tubular device body that has a first end and a second end, with a first ring provided at the first end and a second ring provided at the second end;

providing a balloon catheter having a catheter body that has a distal tip, and a balloon provided adjacent to, and proximal to, the distal tip, and having a distal end and a proximal end, the balloon catheter further including a first string secured to the balloon catheter at a position adjacent the distal end of the balloon and having a first eyelet, and a second string secured to the balloon catheter at a position adjacent the proximal end of the balloon and having a second eyelet;

providing a sheath for sliding movement over the catheter body and the balloon, the sheath having a distal end;

positioning the medical device in its expanded state over the deflated balloon;

crimping the medical device over the deflated balloon;

threading the first and second eyelets of the first and second strings, respectively, through the first and second rings, respectively;

advancing a locking wire through the first and second eyelets and into the distal tip; and

advancing the sheath over the crimped medical device to the distal tip to completely cover the crimped medical device; and

the method further including providing a connecting wire that connects the first and second strings; and

the method further including providing a central lumen extending through the balloon, and wherein the connecting wire extends through the central lumen.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing a locking wire includes the step of advancing the locking wire through a lumen defined between the sheath and the catheter body to exit the distal end of the sheath.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of threading the first and second eyelets includes the step of locking each of the first and second eyelets at the first and second rings, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second rings is provided as an independent ring and attached to the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second rings is provided as a rounded tip at the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second rings is provided as an opening in an apex at the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including providing a middle sheath that extends through a lumen defined between the sheath and the catheter body, with the second string attached to a distal end of the middle sheath.

8. A method of implanting a medical device at a location in a human anatomy, wherein the medical device has been secured to a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter according to the method of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

withdrawing the sheath in a proximal direction to expose the medical device;

withdrawing the locking wire in a proximal direction;

expanding the balloon, with the expanding balloon causing the first and second strings to be withdrawn through the first and second rings, respectively;

deflating the balloon; and

withdrawing the balloon catheter in a proximal direction.